2012 NBA Free Agents: NY Knicks Must Pursue Steve Nash and Let Jeremy Lin Walk

The New York Knicks are headed to the playoffs, and while they certainly have the talent to make some noise this season, realistically—in terms of contention—all eyes should be on next season, as the Knicks should be in the thick of things in the Eastern Conference all season long.

Given their current situation, New York is a point guard away from contending for something they haven’t won since 1973—and that’s an NBA championship.

That’s why to achieve that goal, the Knicks must make an aggressive push at signing Steve Nash in the offseason and let Jeremy Lin walk as a free agent.

Before the outrage begins, I am as big of a Lin fan as anyone, but if the goal in the Big Apple is to win that Larry O’Brien Trophy, then the veteran Nash makes much more sense for the Knicks.

When the season ends, the Knicks will have only one point guard under contract, and that’s Toney Douglas. General manager Glen Grunwald will certainly offer Lin the $5 million mid-level exemption, but if they can convince Nash to sign for that next season, it makes much more sense.

Lin is a great story and he’s got a future, but with a roster so close to contending, now isn’t the time to be developing a point guard.

Nash is the more proven commodity.

Even at 38 years old, the two-time MVP has shown that he’s got plenty left in the tank, averaging 10.8 assists per game (second in NBA) on a not-so-talented Phoenix Suns team. Nash is as good of a decision maker as there is in the league and can keep defenses honest with his ability to score the ball, shooting 53 percent from the floor on the season.

Nash is also a threat to knock down the perimeter shot consistently, a career 43 percent shooter from behind the arc.

Re-united with Amar’e Stoudemire and playing with Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler as well and the Knicks offense could be deadly with Nash running the show.

Nash wants to win a championship and would definitely give the Knicks more than a look. With Nash in a Knicks uniform, they also could have the luxury of developing a young guard behind him.

The problem with Lin is that you just don’t know what you have.

He’s a guy with 25 career starts at the point. It’s real easy to say that the Knicks would be foolish to sacrifice the future for a couple of years with Nash, but how can anyone be so sure Lin is the future?

Sure we’ve seen some good things out of Lin and he’s played a big role in turning this current Knicks team around, but he also does a lot of things below the league average.

Lin’s .446 field goal percentage would put him 13^th among current NBA point guards. His three-point percentage (.320) would rank him 35^th at the position.

Then there’s Lin’s decision making. His 3.6 turnovers per game puts him 35^th in the NBA and his 6.2 APG rank him 13^th.

These are all areas that you think Lin will improve with experience, but they are also areas where Nash gives the Knicks an upgrade, even at the age of 38.

Sure Lin was an upgrade over the Douglas-Mike Bibby combo, but is there anything about him that makes you feel certain that Lin’s the guy to lead the Knicks to that long awaited championship? It’s still a roll of the dice with Lin. It’s possible it works out, but what happens when the scouting report gets out on him after the NBA has seen Lin for a year?

There’s no certainty he can adjust.

With Nash you get a proven guy and possibly the missing piece of the Knicks puzzle. The goal is a championship and not nice stories. Nash would give the Knicks a better chance at finally reaching that goal.

You want to take advantage of the talent on the team while that window is still open. If Nash gives the team the best chance at winning a title, then that’s the move they have to make.

It would be nice to see them be able to sign Nash and keep Lin as a backup so the veteran can help bring Lin along, but Lin’s likely going to want to capitalize on his spike in popularity and will be looking to cash in.

When the offseason comes around, who the point guard on the Knicks roster is going to be will be the biggest decision the front office has to make.

Unfortunately for Knicks fans, going with the more certain thing could be the smart thing to do.